From Tampa, Florida
For the second straight convention, Republicans have had to scrap the first day of their national political gathering because of a tropical weather system, as officials decided Isaac posed too much of a threat to delegates and others visiting the Tampa Bay area.
"The safety of those in Isaac's path is of the utmost importance," said Republican standard bearer Mitt Romney in a statement.
"I applaud those in Tampa making appropriate schedule changes."
As of now, Romney may accept his nomination without the presence of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who said he would not be joining his fellow Republicans because of Isaac.
"I was honored to have the opportunity to give a speech at the convention, but I'm going to cancel my speech and all of my other RNC activities," Scott said.
Scott had been scheduled to speak to the convention Monday evening.
Also deciding not to show up in Tampa was Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama.
"I will not be leaving the state while there is a danger of a hurricane approaching our coast," Bentley said in a statement.
The political casualties included members of Congress like Rep. Jeff Miller, whose district in the Florida Panhandle includes Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach.
"Looks like my district is in the bulls eye," Miller told me on Saturday evening, saying that he would be "staying home" instead of going to Tampa.
Here in the Tampa area, the news of the delay came as delegates were flooding into their hotels, some right on the waters of Tampa Bay, which was already seeing gusty winds and some choppy surf late on Saturday.
But the forecast wasn't dampening the spirits of GOP delegates.
"We'll roll with whatever happens," said GOP delegate Rick Brinkley, a state representative from Oklahoma who was enjoying lunch at a seafood joint along Tampa Bay.
This marks the second straight convention where a tropical weather system has forced the GOP to cancel its Monday activities. Four years ago it was Hurricane Gustav threatening the Gulf Coast, and even though the convention was hundreds of miles away in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Republicans decided to scrap the first day at their 2008 assembly.
Isaac also forced the Obama campaign to completely cancel a trip to Florida by Vice President Biden. His stop in Tampa on Monday had already been scratched; he also now will not make stops in Orlando and St. Augustine that were scheduled for Tuesday.
